Many Autism Cases May Be Preventable

A new study published in Mitochondrion suggests that autism may develop when three biological factors converge during early development—and, importantly, two of them may be modifiable.

The Three Hits

1. Genetic sensitivity — Some children inherit traits that make their cells more reactive to stress.

2. An early-life trigger — Infection, inflammation, or pollution during pregnancy or infancy can switch on the body’s natural “cell danger response” (CDR).

3. A stress response that won’t turn off — If the CDR stays active too long, it can disrupt how the brain builds its communication networks.

Why This Matters

The CDR is intended to promote cell repair, but when it remains active, it interferes with normal cell-to-cell communication and energy use—especially in the developing brain. This can shape behavior and development in ways linked to autism.

Because only the first “hit” is genetic, the study suggests that early screening and metabolic support could reduce or prevent a significant portion of autism cases — possibly 40–50%, according to lead author Dr. Robert Naviaux of UC San Diego.

A Unified Biological Story

This model integrates multiple findings about autism—from immune activity to mitochondrial function to sensory sensitivity— into a single hypothesis: chronic cellular stress during critical developmental windows.

What Comes Next

Researchers hope to develop:

• better prenatal and early-infant screening for metabolic stress

• therapies that calm abnormal ATP signaling

• clinical trials testing metabolic treatments in children

As Naviaux puts it, “Understanding autism through the lens of cellular stress doesn’t just change how we think about it — it changes what we can do about it.” (more)